Why are replacement loose sofa covers so expensive???? Where can I get cheaper ones????

[BoffinMum]

We have two ten-year old John Lewis sofas that are in perfect nick, apart from the loose covers are now threadbare, so I wanted to get some replacements. I have mended them several times, but now they are really giving up the ghost. The covers are the kind you can put in the washing machine.

I got a local firm in to quote, and also spoke to John Lewis, and all these people quoted four figure prices for replacement covers well in excess of what the two entire sofas had cost in the first place, and probably equivalent to what it would cost to buy two brand new sofas now.

I am loath to put two perfectly good pieces of furniture into landfill, so I want to get them recovered. But if I can't afford to shell out ££££ how do I go about this? There must be a way of getting covers done cheaper or nobody would be able to afford to buy sofas at all. BTW just putting a rug over the top of them won't work for us as the kids are over them all the time and I would spend my entire life replacing the rug.

We used a company ( www.loose-covers.biz ) which allow you to use your own fabric. They have materials, but we had been given a big roll, which I was glad to find a use for, and was saved this cost. It was pre-washed by the company, so the cover still closes at the back after several much needed washes. We have dogs and 3yr old twins, so being able to wash it is a real help.xx

Hi, message for kom123, how was your covers from www.sofacoversjm.co.UK? I would really appreciate your advice as I am thinking of buying from them?

Had Plumb's covers for our still good Multi York suite. I was fed up with paying out for dry cleaning and wanted washable ones. As said above Multi York was unbelievably expensive and their washable ones looked thin and drab. Plumbs have been great. To look at the fabric you would think it had to be dry cleaned but on a 30 degree wash it came out like new and needed no pressing. It all depends on the state of the settee to be covered and whether it is worth it. When our kids were small we bought cheap and promised ourselves better when they were older and hopefully we were better off. Well the kids are grown up...........

Oh! Forgot to add. Plumbs measure properly and then fit them for you.

Have any of you tried a company called ComfortWorks? I believe they're based in Australia. I found them when I was looking for covers for one of my IKEA armchairs a few years back, but I'm not too sure if they do other sofa models as well.

@Reeseair, i also found these guys and learned that they're specialised in IKEA sofa cover, but haven't seen much of the non-ikea covers, been scouring mumsnet also for more feedback but no luck so far. Have you tried using their service, if so, how're they?

@HallyWell I didn't manage to use them because we've gotten another armchair from the in laws.

I stalked them just moments ago and it seems that they do other covers as well, but I'm not too sure, best to ask them directly, no harm dropping an email or 2 right? :)

We stayed somewhere in France that had sofas with loose drop over covers, with a concealed zip up the back. They were looser than properly made custom fitted covers, but stayed on better than a throw, and you just tucked the extra fabric down the back and side of the seats, if you see what I mean. They were made from what looked like heavy linen sheets. I can't find them anywhere in the UK and am far too fumble-fingered to make any, but I wish I could find them as I definitely can't afford to recover our various hand me down chairs and sofas which are all different colours in the same room.

The only elasticated ones I have seen are just gopping.

I am looking for new covers or making my own. How did you who made your own get on?
Any pics?
Any recommendations of where to get fabric?

Trenni, your comment made me sad. Does that mean that for the sake of "british craftsmanship" poor people cannot afford to have a sofa? Not all of us have the means to pay 2000 for sofa COVERS, especially when said sofa cost less than 600 and was purchased with financial effort. Truth to be said, my mother never spent FOUR years studying to learn how to make a giant cushion cover (are you kidding me?) but she also doesn't charge that ridiculous amount of money for one (unfortunately she's not in the UK). I supposed if you invested so much time to get a degree you'd have to try to justify it somehow. But some niche/expensive craftmanships do become naturally outdated anyway and slowly disappear/appeal only to a smaller section of society. People should not be shamed for not being able to afford something. I have a cheap ikea sofa with removable/washable covers and it has been with me for years. The sofa that needs new cushions WILL be taken to the garbage disposal as I can't afford them. Even if unintentionally, your comment reeks of privilege and middle class snobbery.

I agree that it makes financial sense to buy a new sofa as it is cheaper than a recover.

However, Trenni does make a valid point about people's skills not being valued. My friend wanted me to make a made to measure dress in a specific style and wanted to pay a highstreet off the peg price. I said that would work out as me earning £2 an hour! Minimum wage is about £9 per hour.

Well done Trenni. Boffimum seems to think that having to wait for a reply from a local sewing lady is a bit of a hardship. Making covers is a very skilled and time-consuming thing and most people with these skills are overloaded with work as the younger generation just don't seem interested in learning them. You are right and British craftsmanship is terribly undervalued. Plumbs made to measure ( if it is a viable option for your furniture ) are actually a very reasonably priced alternative to hand-sewn. I would recommend them in most cases.

Majpe thank-you very much! Just come across this thread whilst searching for answers myself, and your comment is spot on, well said, and took the words straight out my mouth! I wouldn't even waste your time with trolls like that, they have time on their hands, scanning around with their narcissistic sociopathic "grandeur" attitude thinking they are over and above the rest of society... dunno what her degree has to do with anything, if you ask me I think she's a fool, applying to UCAS to do a NON-PROFESSIONAL vocation, and sitting for nearly 5 years to basically learn how to use a sewing machine and a few other tools is complete and utter stupidity, complete nonsense that I find so damn funny I'm here laughing as I type! Middle class snobbery indeed! And then to come on here throwing her weight around implying that we have no right to attack what someone else chooses to quote - erm? Yes we DO! We are the paying public, we are your audience, we are the people you rely on to make a fast buck! Charging someone £900 for 3 days work is daylight robbery! Charging someone MORE than what the sofa is worth is daylight ROBBERY!

Out of that £900, £300 would justify the labour, and the other £600 would go in your damn back pocket, especially when the the fabric is being SUPPLIED BY THE OWNER OF THE COUCH!! You think because you chose to stupidly waste 4 years of your life doing a groundless degree, that you can justify your extortionate prices... even if I won the lottery I wouldn't give you what you're charging, what do you think the rest of us don't have kids to feed and hones to run, bills to pay etc? You lot are just as bad as cake makers, rip people off, bang on about time and labour it takes to make (referring to simple cakes with minimal design), the rake it in and reap the rewards for something that took you no more than an hour at most, and to add, trying to make people feel shit about something YOU chose to do! And before anyone tries to come at me with their drivel, I have friends that work in BOTH fields that categorically agree with me and have even admitted to me themselves "the reason I charge what I do is because I can, and there's a demand for it" - total pisstake, beggars belief!

Nothing to do with sluggin it out for long hours - my friend who is a dressmaker and upholsterer moves like lightning, whilst being a wife and tending to 3 very small children! She's never stressed and loves what she does! Those that are against the extortionate fees being quoted, you're not being unreasonable, what you're doing is a reasonable, normal, natural human reaction when something doesn't sit right with you, and you sense an injustice.

MajiPe thank-you very much! Just come across this thread whilst searching for answers myself, and your comment is spot on, well said, and took the words straight out my mouth! I wouldn't even waste your time with trolls like that, they have time on their hands, swanning around with their narcissistic sociopathic "grandeur" attitude thinking they are over and above the rest of society... dunno what her degree has to do with anything, if you ask me I think she's a fool, applying to UCAS to do a NON-PROFESSIONAL vocation, and sitting for nearly 5 years to basically learn how to use a sewing machine and a few other tools is complete and utter stupidity, complete nonsense that I find so damn funny I'm here laughing as I type! Middle class snobbery indeed! And then to come on here throwing her weight around implying that we have no right to attack what someone else chooses to quote - erm? Yes we DO! We are the paying public, we are your audience, we are the people you rely on to make a fast buck! Charging someone £900 for 3 days work is daylight robbery! Charging someone MORE than what the sofa is worth is daylight ROBBERY!

Out of that £900, £300 would justify the labour, and the other £600 would go in your damn back pocket, especially when the the fabric is being SUPPLIED BY THE OWNER OF THE COUCH!! You think because you chose to stupidly waste 4 years of your life doing a groundless degree, that you can justify your extortionate prices... even if I won the lottery I wouldn't give you what you're charging, what do you think the rest of us don't have kids to feed and hones to run, bills to pay etc? You lot are just as bad as cake makers, rip people off, bang on about time and labour it takes to make (referring to simple cakes with minimal design), the rake it in and reap the rewards for something that took you no more than an hour at most, and to add, trying to make people feel shit about something YOU chose to do! And before anyone tries to come at me with their drivel, I have friends that work in BOTH fields that categorically agree with me and have even admitted to me themselves "the reason I charge what I do is because I can, and there's a demand for it" - total pisstake, beggars belief!

Nothing to do with sluggin it out for long hours - my friend who is a dressmaker and upholsterer moves like lightning, whilst being a wife and tending to 3 very small children! She's never stressed and loves what she does! Those that are against the extortionate fees being quoted, you're not being unreasonable, what you're doing is a reasonable, normal, natural human reaction when something doesn't sit right with you, and you sense an injustice

Forgot to add, the price of the fabrics! Take for example my old Sofa.com Leon Corner Sofa - got a quote to have it upholstered for £3000 - the sofa itself cost 3795, the fabric alone would have cost me £1000 altogether (20 metres), it was the Linen House Herringbone Weave Fabric that they still do on their website. I told him to get stuffed with that quote, cheaper to buy the damn thing brand new! These people have no damn morals, decorum or proper business acumen, they just think they they're the only ones that need to survive! Also, newsflash, majority of these upholster companies supply the fabric for you - I can tell you now they get all their fabrics from CHINA!!! Go on Alibaba, DHGate etc, and all the fabrics all the top stores use are right there, then the bastards wanna charge you 2k on top for the fabric when they purchased it in bulk for less than £10 a square yard! I found the same Herringbone Weave fabric for my sofa on Alibaba, and as I said for £1k, so it's a no brainer, steer well clear of these cowboys that prey on desperate people. Just buy a bloody new sofa. Less hassle, less stress.